Who Shot J.R. and 11 Other Surprising Facts about ‘Dallas’

6. Who Shot J.R?

This is one of fictional TV’s most famous questions, as during the quintessential cliff-hangar ending in season three of Dallas, businessman and devious elder son “J.R. Ewing” was shot. Not even the rest of the cast knew who shot him, as writers were told to keep storylines from them until the truth was revealed. Played by Larry Hagman, who passed in 2012, the actor knew he was meant to portray J.R. from the moment he read the script after it was offered to him in 1978. By the time his character was shot three seasons later, fans had propelled him to the top of the list of favorites on the show, so Hagman haggled for higher pay before returning for season four. Producers had to make a decision — pay up or let that shot be fatal. The character’s popularity won out in the end and when network executives gave in, Hagman became one of television’s highest-paid stars at that time. The episode that revealed the killer drew 76 per cent of all television viewers that night. As for who shot J.R . . . ? For anyone who hasn’t heard yet, the sister-in-law mistress did it.